2. metonymic occupational name for a brewer or seller of mead (OE meodu ), a type of alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey.
Vars.: Meade (chiefly Ir.: see below). (Of I only): Meads, Medd, Medding(s), Meadow; Medland (W Country).
Cogns. (of I): Ger.: Matt(e); Matt(n)er, Mattler: Mattmann.
(Of 2) Jewish (Ashkenazic): Meth (from Ger. Met mead); Mednik: Medovoi. Medowoy. Medovy.
Dim (of I) : Ger Mattlin.
Meade is the family name of the Earls of Clanwilliam, who were established for centuries in the country and city of Cork. Their name is also found as Meagh, Miagh, and Myagh, and may in fact be of Irish origin, perhaps a var. of McNamee. In 1488, John Miagh established his right through his father and grandfather to a weir in Cork harbour.
